Dr. Celia Faiola, UCI assistant professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, speaks during a press conference on their opposition to oil drilling off the Orange County coast at Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 22, 2018. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)

LAGUNA BEACH — Activists gathered at secluded Victoria Beach on Thursday, Feb. 22 to protest what they say is a lack of support from local lawmakers to keep offshore drilling off the California coastline.

“We’re here to voice concerns to our local Congress representatives Mimi Walters and Dana Rohrabacher that we don’t want to see additional oil rigs in our ocean,” said Zane Rice, representing SoCal Health Coalition and Indivisible OC 45. “We’re here because Mimi Walters lives in this neighborhood. She supports President Trump’s proposal to open our shores to offshore drilling. We need her to represent our beaches and our environment, not oil companies.”

The SoCal Healthcare Coalition’s Zane Rice speaks during a press conference on their opposition to oil drilling off the Orange County coast at Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 22, 2018. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)

Robin Ganahl, left, environmental activist and organizer with Climate Action Campaign speaks during a press conference on their opposition to oil drilling off the Orange County coast at Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 22, 2018. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)

The SoCal Healthcare Coalition’s Zane Rice speaks during a press conference on their opposition to oil drilling off the Orange County coast at Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 22, 2018. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)

Dr. Celia Faiola, UCI assistant professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, speaks during a press conference on their opposition to oil drilling off the Orange County coast at Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 22, 2018. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)

SoCal Healthcare Coalition’s Steven Timberman knocks the door of neighborhood to show their opposition to oil drilling off the Orange County coastat Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 22, 2018. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)

Holding signs — “Dana Rohrabacher, I don’t want to see another oil spill in Huntington Beach,” “There is no Planet B” and “Mimi Walters: Who’s Ocean? Our Ocean!” — the group of more than a dozen gathered on the beach and rallied around speakers who addressed the impact of offshore oil drilling.

“Most people understand the harmful impact of offshore drilling on the marine environment,” said Celia Faiola, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Irvine. “California representatives who receive contributions from oil companies tell a different story. Mimi Walters stated offshore drilling is safe in 2015. One month later 126,000 gallons of oil spilled offshore in Santa Barbara. It killed 200 sea birds and 100 marine mammals, including sea lion pups. Even when they run perfectly, offshore drilling emits dangerous greenhouse gases, which could lead to drastic sea level rise and we could lose up to 67 percent of our beaches. This beach could be gone by the end of the century.”

A request for response from Walters or her representatives was not immediately returned.

“We demand Congresswoman Walters and Congressman Rohrabacher stand with their community to stop new drilling off the California coast,” said Robin Ganahl, environmental activist and organizer with Climate Action Campaign.

The offshore drilling protest was the second in Laguna Beach in recent weeks. On Feb. 3, Surfrider Foundation, OC 48, Oceana and Orange County Coastkeeper coordinated the “Hands Across the Sand” protest at Main Beach. The rally, which drew about 500 people, was in opposition to President Trump’s proposal to open California’s coastline to offshore drilling for the first time since 1984. Other rallies on that day were held in Santa Monica and San Diego.

In November, Laguna Beach became the first city in Orange County to oppose offshore drilling and fracking. The unanimous council vote followed Trump’s April 28 executive order urging federal agencies to expand oil and gas leasing in federal waters. With the vote, Laguna Beach joined 12 other cities including Malibu, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Oakland in the opposition effort.

City leaders regularly emphasize Laguna’s reliance on the ocean and coastline for local commerce. That coastline draws more than 6.5 million visitors to the city each year for its unique coves, beaches and Marine Protected Area — one of only a few statewide.

Maria Minney, of Irvine, was among Thursday’s group of protesters. She said she had also taken part in the demonstration at Main Beach.

“Offshore drilling is backward,” she said. “My representative is Mimi Walters. I don’t understand how she can be from here and endorse an initiative like this.”

Following the 30-minute rally, protesters chanted “No more drilling, no more drilling” and then separated into teams to canvas the neighborhood at Victoria Beach with hopes of drawing attention to Walters’ stance.

One resident, who answered a knock on the door from protesters by leaning out of a second-story window, told the group she opposed offshore drilling and appreciated their effort to spread awareness.

Later, John Church, a resident walking his two dogs in the neighborhood, spoke with the group.

“I don’t know of a single friend or any person in Laguna Beach that would support offshore drilling,” he said. “I have an affinity for the Marine Protected Area and our tidepools. Drilling for oil off Laguna would be a disaster. We’ve invested for decades in keeping our coastal environment pristine. There is a huge difference in beaches in Laguna Beach compared to Dana Point and Newport Beach.”

Erika Ritchie reports on South Orange County coastal communities, military issues and Camp Pendleton for the OC Register. She explores everything from coastal access, environmental issues and marine life to city government, animal welfare and quality of life. She’s won many awards including first place in news (2016) by the Orange County Press Club for her coverage of record numbers of whale entanglements off the California coast. Erika’s covered military change of command and seen military affairs firsthand from the sea aboard a battleship, air from a MV-22 Osprey, and land including Pendleton’s International war games and San Clemente Island’s ordnance ranges. Journalism allows Erika’s penchant for telling human stories of conflict, struggle and joy. Her monthly Everyday Hero feature does just that, highlighting achievements of some of Orange County’s most dedicated volunteers and non-profit leaders. Since joining the Register in 2001, she’s at times covered every city in South Orange County delving into development, housing, transportation, county government and social issues. She’s often written about Saddleback Church and Pastor Rick Warren’s emerging national and global roles. Erika’s passionate about animals and outdoor adventure. She runs, stand-up paddles and skis - both alpine and x-country. She frequents Mammoth Lakes and Mountain for hiking, biking & skiing and for her dogs to frolic in the snow and lakes. She grew up bilingual in German and conversational in French.

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